Anchor attachment for removable bridgework.



W. F. SHAW.

ANCHOR ATTACHMENT Foa REMOVABLE BRTDGEWORK.v

APPLICATION FILED SEPTT25 191?.

Patented Apr. 16, 1918.

Inventor Witnesses Attorneys UNTED STATES PATENT OFFTCE.

WILLIAM F. SHA1/V, OF PUEBLO, COLORADO.

.ANCI-,IGR ATTACHMENT FOB REMOVABLE BRIDGEWORK.

Application led. September 25, 19.1.7.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Dr. VILLIAM F. SHAW, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pueblo, in the county of Pueblo and State of Colorado, have invented a new and useful Anchor Attachment for Removable Bridgework, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to dental bridge work, and it is the object of the invention to provide a novel and improved means for filling in a bridge of one or more artificial teeth or dummies between natural teeth, which will be a strong ,serviceable denture, and which may be removed at the will of the wearer for cleaning, thus eliminating the objectionable unsanitary features 0f permanently attached bridge work.

Another obj ect of the invention is the provision of a bridge work of the nature indicated of novel construction and embodying a novel assemblage of the component elements, the device being adjustable for different spaces between the natural teeth and for different numbers of artificial teeth or dummies.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the bridge work between the natural teeth.

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof with the artificial teeth removed.

Fig. 3 is a section of the artificial teeth on the line 3 3 of Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the extensible bar or bridge member.

Figs. 5', 6 and 7 are section lines on the respective lines 5-5, 6-6 and 7--7 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a rear view of the saddle or sheath.

Fig. 9 is a section of the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the split pin or stem.

In carrying out the invention, the abutting natural teeth 1, which are to be used for anchorage, between which the space is t0 be bridged, are prepared for the bridge bygrinding or cutting slots or seats 2 therein in their adjacent sides from the gingival to the occlusal centers by an ordinary separating disk or the like. The extensible bar Specification of Letters Patent.

Serial No. 193,155.

or bridge member 3, shown in Fig. 4, is then applied to the teeth 1. This extensible bar' comprises the slidably connected end sections 4 and intermediate section 5 each having its edges bent back, as at 6, so that the intermediate section 5 can slide or fit tele scopically within the sections 4. The sections 4 are provided at their remote ends with two ply wings or ears 7, formed by doubling the sheet metal from which the sections are constructed, andsaid wings or ears extend outwardly at an obtuse angle, being of malleable material as well as the remainder of the sections 4 and 5. As apparent by reference to Figs. 4 and 6, one wing or ear 7 of each pair is integral with the body of the respective section, while the other wing or ear is integral with the remote bent back portion or lip 6, whereby each section can be .readily bent from a sheet metal blank. he slots 2 in the natural teeth 1 are formed for the reception of the annealed wings or webs 7, which are seated therein, and said wings are then burnished apart against the walls of the teeth 1 formed by the slots 2, the sections of the bar 8 having been slid to properly adjust the length of the bar according to the space between the teeth 1 which are to serve as abutments. Tf necessary, a part of each section 4, as well as the section 5, can be filed or cut away if the bar 3 is too long, it being noted that said sections can be readily separated and slid together. WThen the proper adjustment has been obtained, the sections Of the extensible bar are crimped, to prevent change of position, thereby rendering the bar rigid,and the space made by the burnishing between the webs or wings 7v is then filled with solder and the exposed edges nished ofi', in the manner disclosed in my patent on artificial tooth anchor #1,211,494, granted January 9, 1917.

The bar 3 has assembled therewith a loop or clasp S split, as at 9, and having its intermediate portion secured to the' section 5 between its ends and the sections'4 whereby the loop or clasp 8 can be adjusted lengt-hwise of the bar with the section 5 to the desired position. The loop or clasp 8 is constructed of resilient material. After the loop or clasp 8 is adjusted to the desired position, the. cavities of thebar 3u are filledV with solder,.as at 11 in Fig. 2, and this solder fills in between the bar 3 andloop 8, fastening all parts of the bar 3 together as a unitary structure.

A split pin or stem 12 is adapted to fit slidably through the clasp S to be held thereby, the clasp S being slightly expansible, due to the splitting thereof, and the splitting of the pin 12 also serving to expand 1t within the clasp to hold the pin in place. This pin has a flat terminal 13, and the pin is preferably fitted in the clasp before the solder 11 is applied. Care must be taken, however, not to flow any of the soldier on the split pin 12, because the pin must remain freeto be removed from the clasp.

The next step resides in removing split pin from the clasp, and placing the bar or bridge member in position in the teeth `1 (or on a model which has been prepared), and a piece of sheet gold or other suitable material is then bent astride the barV 3 and clasp 8, to form a saddle or sheath 14. This saddle is properly trimmed and burnished, and extends from one tooth l to the other to fill in the space therebetween, and the ends of the saddle 14 are bent apart along diverging lines, as at 15, to accommodate the gum on each side of the bar. A hole 16 is then punched or otherwise formed in the intermediate portion of the saddle 14 to register with the aperture of the clasp 8 for the insertion of the split pin 12 through said aperture and clasp. The pin is then inserted through the apertures of the saddle 14 and clasp 8, with the attened end 13 of the pin projecting from the saddle and the split terminal thereof projecting Within the saddle and clasp. The porcelain facing or dummy 17 is then the placed in front of the saddle or backing 14I and fastened thereto by Wax or the like, which is also employed for fastening the split pin to the sheath, the Wax surrounding the flattened end 13 of the pin and embedding the same therein. The pin must be securely waxed to the saddle so that it can be removed therewith without disturbing the position of the pin relatively to the saddle. The saddle, split pin and dummy are then removed, and then after being properly invested, the dummy 0r artificial facing is securely soldered to the saddle, and the upper or flattened end of the split pin is also embedded Within the solder, thereby uniting said parts substantially integral, as seen in Fig. 3, the solder being designated 18 and occupying space previously occupied by the wax which Was removed during investment. l

The bar or bridge bar 3 is then reapplied to the teeth l, and the terminal Wings thereof are cemented securely and permanently Within the teeth 1. After the cement has set securely, the removable tooth may be readily attached and removed from the bar 3 at the pleasure of the wearer, the tooth being of U-shape in side elevation to fit astride the bar 3, and the split pin being inserted through the clasp or loop 8 to firmly hold the tooth in place when applied but enabling it to be drawn forcibly out of engagement with the bar.

The adjacent edges of the wings or webs 7 are inclined or at obtuse angles relative] to the bar 3, whereby the edges of the sa dle 14 in engaging them, will serve to provide a Wedge fit of the saddle to minimize the tendency of the tooth to rotate about the bar. The attachment has a substantial anchorage. The sheath or saddle fits snugly over the bar, which is made strong and secure to bear all the strain of mastication. This saddle is designed to fit the bar so snugly that there will be no loose play or Wabbling motion. Vhen pressed to position so thatA the saddle or sheath fits snugly, the clasp 8 grasps the pin and exerts pressure around it, and the split end of the pin has a tendency to spread Within the clasp, increasing the strength of grasp holding the denture in position. The clasp and also the split pin are designed to be made of suitable combination of metals high in qualities of hardness and resiliency, so that they will resist Wear from frequent removal of attachment, and also retain the resiliency after much usage. The attachment is removed by a straight lifting or pulling pressure, which enables the saddle to slide off of the bar, and the resiliency of the pin and sheath allows the denture to be removed..

The strength of the grip exerted by the clasp and split pin may be regulated at pleasure by closing the clasp or spreading the split portion of the pin. No pressure excepting the straight lifting pressure of the tooth has the tendency to loosen or remove the same.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. Dental bridge work embodying anchorage, having a clasp, and a U-shaped artificial tooth to fit astride the anchorage having a pin therein to enter the clasp.

Q. Dental bridge Work embod ing anchorage having a split resilient c asp, and a tooth of U-shape to fit astride the anchorage and having a split pin therein to fit in said clasp.

3. Dental anchorage embodying a bar having an adjustable intermediate section and a tooth-holding clasp carried by said section.

4. An artificial tooth embodying a saddle to fit astride anchorage, a. dummy attached to said saddle, and means Within the In testimony that I claim the foregoing saddle for engaging the anchorage to holcl as my own, I have hereto aHiXed my signathe tooth in place. ture in the presence of two Witnesses.

5. An artificial tooth embodying a sad- DR. WILLIAM F. SHAW'. 5 dle to it anchorage, a pin projecting Within Witnesses:

the saddle, and solder surrounding said sad- VILLIAM J. BAKER, die and embedding the pin therein. EMMA FLORENCE SHELL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. C. 

